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FIFA on Wednesday barred Iraq from hosting international football friendlies due to a massive surge in nationwide violence, barely three months after world football’s governing body gave Baghdad the go-ahead.

The Iraqi Football Association (IFA) was informed of the ban in a notification from FIFA, which cited a spike in unrest that has left more than 2,500 dead from April through June and at least 123 killed in the first three days of July alone.

“Today, we received a notification from FIFA to stop hosting any friendly matches in stadiums in Iraq at the current time, and until further notice, due to the wave of violence,” said Naim Saddam, an IFA official.

“This is regrettable.”

FIFA in March lifted a ban on Iraq hosting international football friendlies and the country promptly staged a match with neighbouring Syria in Baghdad’s Shaab stadium just days later, with the national side subsequently facing off with Liberia.

The initial friendly had marked a key step in Iraq’s re-emergence on the world stage after decades of conflict and sanctions.

But the country has been hit by a marked increase in violence since, with recent attacks also targeting football pitches and cafes where Iraqis were watching the sport on television.

In June alone, more than 60 people were killed in at least 10 bombings targeting pitches and cafes, according to an AFP tally.

The Miami Heat waived veteran guard Mike Miller through the NBA’s amnesty provision on Tuesday, a move that saves the two-time NBA champions $17 million in luxury tax fees.

Miller appeared in 59 regular-season games last season, and averaged 4.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 15.3 minutes.

The Heat still owe Miller $12.8 million over the next two seasons. Miller signed with the Heat in summer of 2010 but suffered through injuries to his thumbs and back that limited his playing time.

—Brooklyn Nets coach Jason Kidd pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drunken driving charge and will speak with young drivers as a condition of a settlement, according to News12 Long Island.

Kidd was arrested in Long Island on July 16, 2012, when he crashed his Cadillac SUV into a telephone pole. The 40-year-old was placed on interim probation pending his appearance at two Suffolk County schools regarding the dangers of drunken driving. After he speaks, News 12 Long Island reported that Kidd will be allowed to change his plea to driving while impaired, a lesser charge. His driver’s license remains suspended.

Kidd retired as an NBA player after last season and was hired to coach the Nets.

—Metta World Peace officially joined the New York Knicks on Tuesday, signing a contract with his hometown team.

The Knicks made the announcement and World Peace confirmed it by tweeting a picture of the signing. After World Peace was waived by the Los Angeles Lakers under the amnesty provision, he received a $1.7 million contract from the Knicks and the Lakers will play the remaining $7.7 million of his deal in LA.

Selected No. 20 overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by San Antonio, Anderson played three seasons with the Spurs and Rockets, averaging 3.7 points and 1.5 rebounds in 116 games.

The 6-foot-11 Ohlbrecht is a native of Germany who spent time this past season in the D-League with Rio Grande Valley, averaging 13.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.63 blocks and 1.13 steals. Ohlbrecht also saw action in three games for the Rockets.

—Omri Casspi, the first Israeli-born athlete to play in the NBA, has joined the Houston Rockets on a two-year, $2 million deal.

The 6-foot-9 forward spent his first four NBA seasons split between the Sacramento Kings andCleveland Cavaliers. His best season came in his rookie year of 2009-10, when he averaged 10.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Casspi has averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists over 256 career games.

—The Denver Nuggets continued to transform their front office Tuesday when they named Arturas Karnisovas as assistant general manager.

Karnisovas, 42, joins the Nuggets after five years with the Houston Rockets. He started with the team as an international scout in 2008, and was most recently the team’s director of scouting. Karnisovas will assist new general manager Tim Connelly and team president Josh Kroenke with day-to-day operations related to scouting and player personnel matters.

Li-Ning’s enthusiasm in supporting sport in Indonesia apparently not kidding. This time, the China-based company also appreciates to sponsor two basketball teams Indonesia, Satria Muda Britama and Indonesia Warriors.
Both Indonesia’s basketball team got a contract with a duration of 3 years. Previously, Li-Ning enthusiasm seen as sponsoring Indonesian badminton. Not only that, the sport product manufacturers are also sponsors athletes from many different sports such as, Petennis Maric Cilic, pole vaulter Elena Isinbayeva and sprinter Asafa Powell.
According to the Director of the Li-Ning, Mahender Kapoor, signing a new contract with the Indonesian Basketball aims that it is not only sponsoring the sport of badminton, but with also with the other.
“70 per cent for Asia is badminton. Our priority is not just to support badminton, but also other sports. We also sponsor the NBA’s top players, “said Director of Li-Ning, Mahender Kapoor in Jakarta, Tuesday (9/7).
While Andi Kurniawan, as the representative of Indonesia Sport Venture, revealing, in collaboration with Li-Ning, all team apparel will use the product in accordance with the contract clause.
Andi added, that the consideration to working with Li-Ning as a company from the bamboo curtain is a brand that is quite advanced. “For a nominal contract we can not mention, which is obviously the duration of the contract runs for three years,” he replied in the same place. [Cr / bnt]

De Angelis Replace Spies at Laguna Seca
Siena – Alex de Angelis will get the chance to perform again in the MotoGP class. Not yet recovered Ben Spies made ​​De Angelis will race for Pramac Ducati in MotoGP United States.

Spies is still struggling with a shoulder injury after a severe accident at Malaysian MotoGP, in October last year. He can follow the race in Qatar and Austin this year, but then absent.

In the last five series, Spies position was replaced by a Ducati test rider, Michele Pirro. Pirro appeared tolerable and able to get 30 points from the five series.

But, Pirro will not be able to fill the position of U.S. Spies in MotoGP, July 21. The reason, he should follow the test session with Ducati at the Misano Circuit, July 23 to 25.

Therefore, the Pramac Ducati rider pointing De Angelis as a substitute at Laguna Seca. Incidentally, De Angelis also had no agenda on July 21 for the Moto2 class was contested at Laguna Seca.

De Angelis is now competing in the Moto2 and defend the Forward Racing team. Previously, it appeared San Marino rider in the MotoGP class with the Honda Gresini in 2008 and 2009. She also appeared in three series with Interwetten Honda in 2010 to replace the injured Hiroshi Aoyama.

Meanwhile, Spies is still undergoing treatment is expected to comeback in MotoGP Indianapolis, 18 August. The next MotoGP series is the German MotoGP at the Sachsenring circuit, July 14.

Moscow – CSKA Moscow midfielder from Japan, Keisukse Honda, reportedly one step closer to join the Italian giants, AC Milan. However, the news was immediately denied by Moscow director Roman Babaev.
“Honda to Milan? No. That’s not true,” said the man with a short Russian citizenship to championat.com., As quoted by Football Espana, Tuesday, July 23, 2013.
Statement of Babaev very surprising. Therefore, in recent days, Moscow reportedly has urged Milan to bring the former VVV Venlo player, Eredivise club, the San Siro.
In fact, Honda will soon sign a contract in Milan. “Let us see,” said Milan vice president Adriano Galliani. “I’m glad to know that Honda is a Milan fan since childhood.”
Galliani were already preparing for the back number 22 Honda. “I’ll give back the number 22. Kalin I immediately told as soon as possible on how it plays out,” said Galliani.

Budapest – Hungary GP to be one race that has never been won by Sebastian Vettel in his career. The defending champion is hoping to be able to break the “curse” is before the holiday competition.

In six races in Budapest, Red Bull’s best achievement is just riding on the podium both occurring in 2011. Other four races there ended with a third place finish, once finished fourth and failed to finish once. While on his debut in this series, Vettel finished 16th while still defending Toro Rosso.

This season, Vettel has managed to get his first win as a cage aka GP race win and become champions Germany in Canada.

Vettel, is still firmly on top of the standings with a collection of 157 points, 34 points adrift of Fernando Alonso. Victory in Hungary will keep its distance from the closest rival.

“Hungary has some interesting memories for me,” said three-time world champion was quoted by Reuters.

“It was my first race with the Red Bull family. Lets hope I can add to my memories with a win there for the first time before I vacation,” hope Vettel.